Issignoe op one-half



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. M LITTLETONQ GAR COUPLING.

No. 337,598. Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

i I WITNESSES INTfi EJVTOR, awn/L a, \mflfiliw/ (-No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. O. M. LITTLETON.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 337,598. Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

WITNESSES Zamfl 6K IJVVEJVTOR E1111 Jan 231 J .dttorne UNITED Smarts ATnN'I rrrc'n.

CHARLES M. LITTLETON, or SHIRLEY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HIRAM W. QUINN, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFZCATIOH forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,598, dated March 9. 1886.

I Application filed December 31, 1885. Serial No. 187,209. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. LITTLE- TON, of Shirley, in the county of McLean, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to car-couplers.

The object of the invention is to proluce a coupling that may be effected by the brakeman without entering between the cars, all of which will be fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of the ends of two cars united by my improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a car provided with my coupler. Fig. 3 is an end view, and Fig. 4 a bottom plan view. Fig. 5 represents the various kinds of links which are employed in connection with my coupler.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

A represents the end of a car; B B, the sides, and O the bottom thereof.

D indicates a bar or rod provided with a coiled spring, D. This bar is attached to the rear end of the draw-head proper, and it is secured to the under side of the car in the usual manner. The spiral springis of the ordinary construction.

E represents the rear block of my crosshead. This block is firmly united to the forward end of the rod D. Two parallel pieces, E E, formed integral with the rear block, E, extend forward. To the outer ends of the projections E is secured the slotted block F, which constitutes the jaw proper for the reception of the link. This jaw is provided with a vertical opening, f, for the reception of the coupling-pin. Two pins, 9 9, one on each side, are secured to the upper side of the jaw. These pins extend upward and are provided with heads. On the upper side of the jaw is a vertically-movable bar, G, provided with upturned ends h. The bar G is provided with openings for the admission of the pins 9. It is also provided with a central opening registering with the opening -f in the draw-head,

parallel with the end of the car.

whereby the coupling pin may be passed through said bar and thence through the jaws F, for engaging and securing the link.

A right angled lever handle, H, is fulcrumed at h to the end of the car. This lever extends across the end of the car, each side being provided with a handle.

H H indicate right-angle continuations of the handles H. These continuations are fulcrumed at h to the end of the car and extend inward.

H H are right-angled pieces'extending outward from the rods H, and H a rod-piece The leverpieces H; H, H, and'H" are formed of one piece bent in the manner indicated.

H is a stop-pin to limit the backward movement of the handle H.

J J are arms jointed to the ends of the car. The outer ends of these arms are provided with an opening in which the upper ends of dependent links J Jare secured. The lower ends of said dependent links are attached to the upturned ends it h on the bar G. The central cross-piece, H rests under the jointed arms J J.

By turning the lever handle H forward the lever-arms H and cross-piece H are elevated. This-movement also elevates the jointed arms J, the links J, the bar G, and the couplingpin K. The head of the coupling-pin K rests on the top part of the bar G. Said pin is therefore raised and lowered in unison with the movement of the bar G. Said bar has a vertical movement on the guide-pins g g.

I I indicate lever-handles connected by a continuous rod, 1 I 1, running under blocks L and secured thereto by staples or other suitable means. The blocks L are fixed to the under side ofthe drawhead pieces E. The lower part of the rod I is provided with two projections, M M, extending forward at right an. gles therefrom. Said projections are rigidly secured to the rod 1 N is a slotted-plate 1ink-adj uster. The inner sides of the draw-head pieces E are provided with vertical guide-recesses for the reception of the sides of the link-adjuster. Said adjuster has a vertical movement in said recesses. 'It is provided with two openings on its lower side for the reception of the projec-. tions M. M. The sides of the slot in the plate Nare vertical, and the bottom a right angle to 1 drawing it toward him, which last act raises the sides. The upper part of the slot is formed wedge-shaped. (See Fig. 3).

indicates a spring having one end secured to the under side of the draw -head. This spring is curved downward and upward and provided on its upward end with a cross-piece, O. This cross-piece rests under the arms M, thereby forcing said arms and thelink'adjnsting plate N normally upward.

I do not wish to limit myself in this application to the spring 0 for elevating the linkadjuster, as that result may be attained by several equivalent means, one of which is a weighted lever.

Q, Q represent the wheels of the car; R, the axle, and S the rails.

Several forms of link may be employed in connection with my device. The link marked No. 1 is intended to beused where the two cars to be coupled are provided with my couplers. The link No. 2 is to be used when one of the cars is provided with my improvement and the other with the old form or ordinary draw-head. The bent link No. 3 is to be employed when one coupling is higher than the other. These several forms of link may be hung and kept ready for use on the hooks P on the ends of the ear.

The operation of my improved coupling is as follows: The front lever-handle, H, and its connected devices are used simply to raise the coupling-pin F. The rear lever, I, and connected means are employed for straightening the link and raising or lowering it so that it will enter thejaws of the drawhead of the car to be coupled. When the links herein shown are engaged in the jaws of one of my draw-heads with one of the projections 25 exteding inward, said link may be adjusted both as to a straight line and elevation by means of'the plate or linkadjuster N. By throwing forward the lever-handle I the projections M andplate N are drawn down. This move ment causes the notched slot in the upper part of the plate N to straddle the link projection i, thereby forcing the link to assume a straight line outward from the car. Then a further movement of the lever-handle I, and consequent depression of the arms M and plate N, forces down the rear end of the link and elevates the forward ends thereof to conform to the height of the draw-head into which the link is to be inserted. The normal position of the arms M and link adjuster N is upward. This is effected by the spring 0. \Vhen it is intended to couple two cars and one is approaching the other, the brakeman inserts a link into position in one car. This is done by raising forward lever and inserting the link. Then with one hand on the rear lever he pulls it l'orward,so as to raise and straighten the link and give it the proper direction for entering the jaws in the draw-head of the other car to be coupled, and as the other car approaches the car he is standing by he seizes the front lever of the approaching car,

the device for raising the pin in said approaching car, and when the cars strike he releases his hold of both levers, and the work is done.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A carcoupler having the lever-handle H and continuous bent portions H H H, the arms J, hinged to the car and resting on the lever-piece H, the links J, depending from the outer ends of said arms, and the plate G, provided with openings, as described, and secured to the lower ends of arms J, in combination with the draw-head provided on its upper side with guidepinsg and the couplingpin K, substantially as described.

2. A car-coupler having a leverhandle, I, with continuous bent connections I l I", located under the car, the piece I having rigidly secured thereto the arms M, in combination with the slotted link-adjusting plate N, said plate having a vertical movement between the jaws E, and the arms M passing through openings in the plate, substantially as described.

3. A car-coupler having a lever-handle, I, with continuous bent connections 1 l I, located under the car, the piece 1 having rigidly secured thcreto the arms M, in combination with the slotted link-adjusting plate N, said plate having a vertical movement between the jaws E, the arms M passing through openings in the plate, and a link'provided on its ends with a projection, t, substantially as described.

4. A car-coupler having a lever-handle, I, with continuous bent connections I l l, the piece 1 having rigidly secured thereto the arms M, a spring, 0, having cross-piece O or other equivalent means for elevating the arms M, the vertical movable slotted plate N, mounted between the draw-head pieces E, and the arms M passing through openings in saidplate, substantially as described.

5. A car-coupler having a lever-handle, I, with continuous bent connections I 1 1 the piece 1 having rigidly secured thereto the arms M, a spring, 0, having cross-piece O or other equivalent means for elevating the arms M, the vertically-movable slotted plate N, mounted between the draw-head pieces E, and a coupling-link with one or more extensions, t, in combination with the draw-head F, provided with guide'pins g and movable pin-lifter G, jointed arms secured to said lifter G by arms J, the lever-handle H, and continuous bent portions H H H", and the part H resting under the arms J, substantially as described and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of November, 1885.

Witnesses:

Tnos. SLADE, H. W. QUINN.

CHARLES lll. LITTLETON. 

